Here's a look at FSU, FAMU's fall 2024 commencement speakers for graduating students

Florida State & Florida A&M Universities' graduating students are set to hear from distinguished keynote speakers during their pomp and circumstance-filled celebrations this fall.

At FSU, state attorney Jack Campbell and prominent physicist Harrison Prosper have been selected to be the speakers at FSU's fall commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday at the Tucker Civic Center. 

Meanwhile, long-time actress Malinda Williams will address students at FAMU's graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday and National Urban League President Marc H. Morial will speak at a 9 a.m. commencement Saturday at the Al Lawson Center. 

"Their wisdom and experiences will undoubtedly provide invaluable guidance as our graduates embark on the next chapter of their journeys," FAMU interim President Timothy Beard said of the university's speakers in a prepared statement. 

More than 700 students from FAMU's 14 schools and colleges are expected to receive their degrees this fall, according to the university. 

While the Friday ceremony will include graduates from FAMU schools including the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication and School of Nursing, Saturday's event will include the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health (CoPPS IPH) and the School of Business and Industry. 

At FSU, nearly 3,000 degrees will be awarded – including 2,024 bachelor's degrees, 743 master's and specialist degrees and 112 doctoral degrees, which students will receive at a doctoral hooding ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday at the civic center. 

"To our graduating students, congratulations," FSU President Richard McCullough said in a statement. "You will soon be part of an accomplished group of FSU alumni who are making a difference around the world." 

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Campbell will speak at Friday's 2 p.m. ceremony, which will include the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering while Prosper's speech in the evening will include addressing graduates from FSU's College of Medicine and College of Criminology & Criminal Justice. 

Here's a look at the speakers for this fall's commencement ceremonies at FSU and FAMU. 

FSU commencement speakers

Jack Campbell:Campbell, an FSU alumnus, has served as state attorney for Florida's Second Judicial Circuit since 2017, where his circuit covers six counties – including Leon. Before the role, he served as the felony division chief for 15 years in the same office. 

Harrison Prosper:Prosper – a professor in FSU's Department of Physics since 1993 – is known for his pioneering research in particle physics. He was also named this year's Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor, which is the highest honor FSU faculty can bestow upon one of their own members. 

FAMU commencement speakers

Malinda Williams:Williams has had lead roles in films such as "The Wood," "High School High," "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" and the television series Soul Food. She was nominated twice for a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award for "outstanding actress in a drama series." 

Marc H. Morial: Morial is the president and CEO of the National Urban League – the nation's largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization. He is also the mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana and a lawyer, where he won the Louisiana State Bar Association's Pro Bono Publico Award for his legal service to the poor and disadvantaged. 

How to watch the graduation ceremonies

• FAMU's commencements are open to the public while FSU's graduations are ticketed events, but both universities will livestream their ceremonies.

• For more information on how to watch them, visit FSU's website at  https://commencement.fsu.edu/ and FAMU's website at https://www.famu.edu/students/commencement/ .

Contact Tarah Jean at  tjean@tallahassee.com  or follow her on X:  @tarahjean_ .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU, FAMU announce commencement speakers for fall 2024 graduations